Collapsible self-leveling support structure



Jan. 26, 1965 G. F. BECKWELL 3,167,290

COLLAPSIBLE SELF-LEVELING SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed July 24, 1963INVENTOR.

Gem ge F Blackwell, BY

United States Patent 015 3,167,290 Patented Jan. 26, 1965- ice 3,167,290COLLAPSIBLE SELF-LEVELING SUPPORT STRUCTURE George F. Beckwell, RR. 1,Sugar Grove, Ill. Filed July 24, 1963', Ser. No. 297,365 6 Claims. (Cl.248-163) The present invention relates to improvements in supports andis more particularly concerned with the novel construction and assemblyof a collapsible self-leveling leg structure for supporting a table topor the like.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the novel construction andassembly of a leg structure embodying novel structural characteristicsthat permit it to be adjusted readily as to height and which will beself-leveling irrespective of any irregularities in the level of thefloor surface upon which it is rested. In the exemplary embodimentherein disclosed, the various components of the structure areinterconnected in a manner to permit relative shifting or twisting ofselected components so as to cause re-adjustment automatically.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a verticallyadjustable support structure.

Another object is to provide a novel assembly that readily adjustsitself to support surface irregularities.

Another object is to provide a structure of the character referred towhich is not expensive or diflicult to manufacture, is easy to adjustand is self-leveling.

With the foregoing and such other objects and advantages in view, whichwill appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that various changes in form,

proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to identify corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a leg structure embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof, showing the structureadjusted, in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional vew of the lateral brace and legconnection;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the bracemounting; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the ridge bar.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure in the accompanying drawings, theimproved support structure includes a hollow ridge bar 11 that issubstantially square in section and upon which is secured, as by bolts12, a table top 13 or the like. Two pairs of legs 14 are secured, onepair at each end, to the ridge bar 11. The legs of each pair divergeoutwardly downwardly and each leg comprises a length of tubular or rodstock which may have a soft cushion or cap 15 on its lower end. Theupper end of each tubular leg is flattened, as at 16, and the legs ofeach pair are secured to the ridge bar by bolts 17.

Each leg 14 has an area of reduced diameter, as at 18, over each ofwhich is fitted, loosely, one end of a transverse tie bar 19, said barends being flattened and apertured as shown at 20. This manner ofconnection aifords sufiicient flexibility in the tie bar-leg connectionto enable the legs to adjust themselves to any irregularity in thesupport surface, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

A brace 21 is connected to each transverse tie bar 19. As shown, thisbrace is comprised of a rod having a head 22 at one end. As best shownin FIG. 5, a split collar 23 is fitted over the tie bar 19 and the head22 of the brace rod is engaged therein, as shown, whereupon securingscrews 24- are tightened. The collar 23 has a cordal dimple 25 thereinwhich is seated in an annular recess 26 in the tie bar so as to permitthe brace rod assembly to rotate relative to the tie bar but be heldagainst longitudinal shifting therealong. The other end of said bracerod 21 is bent and seated beneath a clamp plate 27 (FIG. 3) that issecured to the under surface of the ridge bar by a bolt-nut assembly 28.The seated portion terminates in an upwardly extending peg 30 whichseats in an opening in the underside of the ridge bar 11. By providing aseries of holes the brace rods are adjustable in the clamp plate so asto permit angular adjustment of the legs for height adjustment.

It should be evident from the foregoing detail description that thesupport structure may be adjusted as to height by the simple expedientof adjusting the brace rods 21 relative to and along the ridge bar 11and that any variation in the height of the surface upon which the legsrest is compensated for by the fact that the various connections, exceptthe pegs, between the brace rods, the tie bars and the legs are loose.This looseness permits the legs to adjust their positions relative tothe support surface, such position variations being absorbed by theinherent ability of the ridge bar to twist the amount necessary toinsure that all four leg will rest upon said surface.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention, and as manychanges might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to beunderstood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. A support structure comprising, in combination, a ridge bar, a pairof legs pivotally connected to said ridge bar, a tie bar looselyconnected to and bridging the legs of each pair of legs, a collarslidable on each tie bar, an annular recess in said tie bar over whichthe collar rests, means in said collar engageable in the annular recess,and brace rods one connected to each collar and to the ridge bar.

2. In a support structure, a leg assembly comprising a pair of legs, anannular recess in each of said legs between their ends, and a tie barconnecting said legs, said tie bar having apertured end portionsembracing the respective legs in the area of the annular recesses andhaving binding engagement therewith.

3. In a support structure, a leg brace assembly comprising a pair oflegs, a tie bar bridging said legs, an annular recess in saidtie bar, abrace rod, a bracket connecting one end of the brace rod to said tiebar, and means in said bracket engageable in said recess to preventlongitudinal shifting of the bracket along said tie bar.

4. A support structure comprising, in combination, a ridge bar having aseries of openings in one face thereof, a pair of legs pivotallyconnected to said ridge bar, a tie bar loosely connected to and bridgingthe legs of each pair of legs, a collar slidable on each tie bar, anannular" recess in said tie bar over which the collarrests, means" 5. Asupport structure comprising, in combination, a

ridge bar, a pair of legspivotally connected to each end of said ridgebar, an annular recess in each leg, a tiebar bridging the legs ofeachpair of legs and loosely engaged I at their ends in sa'idiannularrecesses, and brace rods ad- I 5 CLAUDEA.YLE ROY, Primary Examiner. 7

justably connected one to each tie bar and to the ridge bar. 7

6. Therstructure recited in claim '5, in which the. brace rods aredetachably connected to the related tie barJ References Cited by theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 7511,466 Selden 108116 1 7/93 1,318,19510/19 Alexander 1081l7 2,374,670 5/45 Duke 248+192 2,546,097 3/51 Hild-1081 16 2,814,541 11/57 Derman 108144 7 2,974,431 3/61 Ribaudo 1081173,008,535 11/61 De Vries 182181

1. A SUPPORT STRUCTURE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A RIDGE BAR, A PAIROF LEGS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID RIDGE BAR, A TIE BAR LOOSELYCONNECTED TO AND BRIDGING THE LEGS OF EACH PAIR OF LEGS, A COLLARSLIDABLE ON EACH TIE BAR, AN ANNULAR RECESS IN SAID TIE BAR OVER WHICHTHE COLLAR RESTS, MEANS IN SAID COLLAR ENGAGEABLE IN THE ANNULAR RECESS,AND BRACE RODS ONE CONNECTED TO EACH COLLAR AND TO THE RIDGE BAR.